Swimming is almost beside the point at these 15 pools found at gorgeous, unexpected properties around the world.

Hotel: Hotel Chocolat, Soufrière, St. Lucia Why It's Cool: The guest-only infinity pool at this five-month-old property is lined with black quartz tiles, a stroke of genius on the part of Hotel Chocolat’s upscale English chocolatier owners; the resulting dark color reflects the iconic Pitons and surrounding rain forest like an overflowing mirror. Ten lounge chairs line the poolside pine deck, pretty much assuring time by the pool for every guest of the 14 cottages and cabins. From your lounge, you can request poolside service of chocolaty treats, like a Bellini infused with fresh cacao pulp from the company's nearby groves.

Hotel: Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, HawaiiWhy It's Cool: Spectacular pools are a dime a dozen in Wailea, the southwestern shore of Maui with prime beach real estate, known for glamorous resorts. So it's saying something that the Four Seasons has one that really stands out. The $9 million infinity-edge pool, which opened in July 2009, seems to roll out into Wailea Bay 53 feet below, while underwater speakers play contemporary Hawaiian tunes. Open only to guests who are 21 plus, this 120-foot-long saltwater pool has four inlets that perpetually bubble, and its swim-up bar delivers thirst-quenching treats like vodka mojitos. In the early evening, the glass mosaic tiles on the bottom of the pool glitter in the flames cast by surrounding fire bowls and tiki torches.

Hotel:Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, Cap d'Antibes, FranceWhy It's Cool: When this hotel reopened in April 2011 on the Côte d'Azur after a $64 million renovation, it unveiled a new, guest-only outdoor pool, which had been dynamited out of the adjacent cliff face. From their perch here, 13 feet above the Mediterranean, guests swim in seawater heated to a temperate 82°F, and have a perfect view over the infinity edge of fellow visitors tying their yachts off on the hotel’s private landing stage. If for some reason one tires of ordering poolside cocktails from the two roving attendants, a nearby set of trapezes hangs over the sea (near the ocean-diving boards, of course) for an adventurous dip in the Med.

Hotel:Amangiri, Canyon Point, UtahWhy It's Cool: Amangiri, in Sanskrit, means "peaceful mountain"—and the most peaceful of those found here may be the 80-foot-high, Jurassic-period sandstone escarpment that rises from the middle of the resort’s U-shaped pool. Guests can take in panoramic views of Utah's dramatic mesas from either the 84-degree water or one of the surrounding lounges and king-size daybeds. Order a prickly-pear margarita to enhance the desert flavor during the day, or test the tranquil waters anytime of night you please: The pool is open 24 hours.

Hotel:Qasr Al Sarab, Abu DhabiWhy It's Cool: No, it's not a mirage. The Qasr Al Sarab resort, which opened in November 2009, materializes in the middle of the tall, curling dunes of the Liwa Desert. It's a spectacular backdrop for the resort's amoeba-shaped pool that rivals a football field in sheer size. Guests often stand in the shallow end of the curvy oasis, next to the bar, and observe the pool butlers bringing cold towels, iced fruit popsicles, and other treats to sun-worshippers on the 140 chaise lounges that line the sandstone patio. During the day, the pool is kept at a refreshing 70°F. Linger until 9 p.m., when lights glimmer along the pool's edges and the stars come out over the date-palm trees.

Hotel:Park Hyatt TokyoWhy It's Cool: Sure, Bill Murray took a dip here in Lost in Translation, but it's the view from this sleek, 47th-floor swimming pool that's truly remarkable: Floor-to-ceiling windows frame jaw-dropping vistas of Tokyo, and even venerable Mount Fuji, while the steel-and-glass pyramid-shaped ceiling floods the pool with natural light. The 65-foot-long, four-lane pool is striking at night, too, when the city's skyscrapers light up.

Hotel:San Alfonso del Mar, Algarrobo, ChileWhy It's Cool: You can take small sailboats out on this saltwater pool that Guinness World Records calls the largest in the world. At two-thirds of a mile in length, the massive stretch of water has room for several man-made sand beaches. For nighttime swimming, head to the temperature-controlled beach inside the pool's centrally located glass pyramid—the water and the sand are heated.

SEE THE POOLS

Each of these cool pools tries to outdo the next—and the effort comes with a hefty pricetag. Most of them are expensive to visit, but our slide show is completely free.